taken 8 years ago, near to Somerleyton, Suffolk, Great Britain

Somerleyton swing bridge - open to rail traffic

After letting a boat travel past on the River Waveney > Link the bridge swings around and is not far off re-connecting with the rail track.

Somerleyton swing bridge > Link - it is located a short distance to the north-west of Somerleyton railway station > Link and takes the railway line over the River Waveney - is 14.40 metres wide and has a clearance f 2.60 metres. The bridge is kept in alignment with the rails on the land by means of a bolt. The signals on the far side of the bridge are connected mechanically and carried across the length of the bridge on rods. The signal box > Link is a brick-built example of the Great Eastern's standard design which was introduced in 1886, and it is quite large because the bridge operating gear used to occupy part of the box. Outside there is a board that can be used to indicate to shipping how long they will have to wait, other boards can be slid across to indicate the waiting time. For a view of the signal box and bridge taken from Somerleyton station see > Link.

Discussion on TM4796

The red flag over the bridge doesn't indicate "danger" as stated in the image of the train crossing the bridge. One flag means the bridge is operational, whereas two flags above eachother indicates that the bridge will not open.